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Monday, March 22, 2010

Review: Daughters of the Sea; Hannah by Kathryn Lasky

Daughters of the Sea tells the story of 3 mermaid sisters who are separated at birth by a storm and go on to lead three very different lives. Book one is about Hannah, who spent her early days in an orphanage and is now a scullery maid in the house of rich, powerful family. She is irresistibly drawn to the sea and through a series of accidents and encounters, discovers her true identity. Hannah realizes that she must keep the truth a secret but she also knows that soon she will have to make the choice - to be a creature of the land or the sea.

Living in 1899, fifteen-year-old Hannah is a strong, smart, hardworking girl, who is both self-aware and at the same time, completely naive and innocent. Even though she tries very hard to fit in, deep down she knows that she is different. From the strange sickness that she develops whenever she is away from the ocean, to the bizarre salt crystals that she sheds, and the constant longing to be in the water, Hannah realizes there is more to her life than what she is now. Meeting some very interesting characters along the way, including a sweet, headstrong little girl, her mad and possibly evil older sister (plus her creepy cat), and a very interesting, handsome young painter who seems to know more about her than she knows herself, Hannah finally realizes her unique gift. She is a mermaid. The question is, what should she do now?

I was hesitant to pick up this book because it just seemed odd, but I heard a lot of good things about it, and was looking for a book to fit the tween/young teen group, so I grabbed this at the library. I was really surprised by how much I enjoyed it. Although I did find it a little strange, (and it kind of seemed like a big long trailer for books to come) it was a fast, fun read, and I'm happy to say that I am now officially a mermaid fan! I'm looking forward to meeting the other Daughters of the Sea. To hear a preview of this book, go to Kathryn Lasky's Web site.

~Andye

Parents should know: Although this book is pretty tame, there are some mild instances of violence, language, and kissing. If you'd like more information on content, go to Hannah on Parental Book Reviews.